Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andre Luiz Gobatto, Patricia Nakayama Miranda, Natalia Uemura, Susanna Mendes Miranda, Welber Costa Pina, Silvia Helena Sofia
Summary: This study evaluated the influence of agricultural landscapes on the abundance and diversity of trap-nesting bees, wasps, and their natural enemies in restored areas. The results showed that monoculture agriculture had a negative impact on the abundance of wasps and their natural enemies, while bee diversity was negatively related to the distance from the edge of reforestation to the nearest forest fragment. The findings suggest that the characteristics of the surrounding landscape should be considered in restoration projects to maximize the effectiveness of ecological services.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Alexandra Siffert, Fabian Cahenzli, Patrik Kehrli, Claudia Daniel, Virginie Dekumbis, Barbara Egger, Jana Furtwengler, Camille Minguely, Nicola Staheli, Franco Widmer, Dominique Mazzi, Jana Collatz
Summary: Drosophila suzukii is an invasive species that feeds on various fruits and moves between agricultural and semi-natural habitats. Predation of D. suzukii pupae in hedges was found to be around 44%, mainly by earwigs, spiders, and ants. While only a small proportion of predators were detected to have fed on D. suzukii, overall predation rates were sufficient to reduce D. suzukii populations in hedges with limited host fruit resources.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Aniko Kovacs-Hostyanszki, Zoltan Soltesz, Viktor Szigeti, Laszlo Somay, Andras Baldi
Summary: The study reveals that 2-3 years old set-aside fields surrounding farmlands may enhance the populations of ecosystem service providers, particularly bees and predatory wasps. However, different insect groups may have varying responses and sensitivities to the presence of set-aside fields.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Vivien von Koenigsloew, Felix Fornoff, Alexandra-Maria Klein
Summary: The study examines the phenology of flowers and wild bees in orchards, showing that perennial flower strips and hedges complement each other in enhancing flower resources for wild bees. Perennial flower strips attract bees more constantly and provide higher bee diversity compared to hedges.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sepehr H. Eraghi, Arman Toofani, Ali Khaheshi, Mohammad Khorsandi, Abolfazl Darvizeh, Stanislav Gorb, Hamed Rajabi
Summary: The study investigates the structure-material-function relationship of wing couplings in nine castes and species of Hymenoptera, revealing that springiness, robustness, and asymmetric behavior enhance the functionality of the couplings. A quantitative link is established between morphological variants of the coupling mechanisms and forces they are subjected to. Inspired by the coupling mechanisms, a rotating-sliding mechanical joint that can withstand tension and compression and can be locked/unlocked is fabricated.
Article
Entomology
Chia-Hua Lin, Sreelakshmi Suresh, Emma Matcham, Paityn Monagan, Hailey Curtis, Rodney T. Richardson, Reed M. Johnson
Summary: This study demonstrated that honey bees regularly forage on soybeans in Ohio, as shown through microscopic and molecular pollen analysis of honey samples combined with waggle dance inference of foraging patterns. The abundance of soybean pollen in honey increased with the number of surrounding soybean fields, and honey bees preferred foraging in soybean fields during soybean bloom.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Annika Schmidt, Thomas Fartmann, Kathrin Kiehl, Anita Kirmer, Sabine Tischew
Summary: Farmland bird populations in Europe are experiencing a severe crisis. Agri-environment schemes, such as flower strips, have been implemented by the European Union to reverse the decline in biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Establishing high-quality perennial wildflower strips with native forb mixtures from regional seed propagation has been shown to be effective for promoting breeding birds. A survey conducted in Germany demonstrated that arable fields with wildflower strips had higher species richness and territory density of birds compared to control fields without wildflower strips.
BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Entomology
Anthony C. Ayers, Sandra M. Rehan
Summary: Cities, while generally reducing biodiversity, can support unique communities like bees. Protecting urban bees is challenging and requires more research on how urban features impact these insects.
Article
Ecology
Lazaro da Silva Carneiro, Willian Moura de Aguiar, Camila de Fatima Priante, Milton Cezar Ribeiro, Wilson Frantine-Silva, Maria Cristina Gaglianone
Summary: This study found that landscape heterogeneity has a strong positive influence on the richness and rare species abundance of Euglossini bees in low thematic resolutions, while the pasture cover quantified in high thematic resolutions positively affects total abundance and abundance of common and intermediate species. The research highlights the importance of maintaining compositional heterogeneity for the orchid bee community in agroecosystems and emphasizes the significance of forest cover for the biological requirements and conservation of these pollinators. The use of different thematic resolutions also sheds light on how specific types of landscape covers influence the euglossine community attributes, indicating species preferences for habitats and landscape covers.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Tristan Eckerter, Veronika Braunisch, Gesine Pufal, Alexandra M. Klein
Summary: Forest management intensity in Europe has varying implications for structural and environmental conditions, as well as the conservation of ecological communities. This study found that silvicultural treatments promoting rare habitat structures can enhance trap-nesting bees, wasps, and their parasitoids. Forest management and associated vegetation characteristics influenced the abundance, richness, parasitism rates, and network structure of the bee/wasp-parasitoid communities. Clear-cut plots showed the highest abundance and richness, while unmanaged plots had the lowest. The results highlight the importance of early successional habitats and different forest management types in shaping the size and speciality of host-parasitoid networks.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Niels Hellwig, Lea F. Schubert, Anita Kirmer, Sabine Tischew, Petra Dieker
Summary: Agricultural systems in Central Europe have been redesigned in order to achieve maximum yields, resulting in homogeneous landscapes and habitat fragmentation. Perennial wildflower strips have been implemented as an agri-environmental measure to counteract these ecological consequences for wild bees and other pollinators. However, the effectiveness of these measures depends on the landscape context, and there is a lack of information about geodata sources and spatial scales relevant for analyzing landscape effects on wild bees.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Felix Klaus, Teja Tscharntke, Ingo Grass
Summary: Habitat loss is a primary driver of biodiversity decline. We found that species responses to habitat loss vary based on their trophic level, food and habitat specialization. Bees are mainly affected by local habitat loss, while wasps are mainly affected by landscape diversity.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2023)
Review
Agronomy
Jolanta Kowalska, Malgorzata Antkowiak, Pawel Sienkiewicz
Summary: Flower strips are increasingly used as part of agri-environmental programs to reduce pressure on agroecosystems and prevent the decline of species diversity. They have the potential to increase functional biodiversity and provide ecosystem services.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Maria Garcia-Martin, Lynn Huntsinger, Maria Jose Ibarrola-Rivas, Marianne Penker, Ugo D'Ambrosio, Thymios Dimopoulos, Maria E. Fernandez-Gimenez, Thanasis Kizos, Jose Munoz-Rojas, Osamu Saito, Karl S. Zimmerer, David J. Abson, Jianguo Liu, Cristina Quintas-Soriano, Irene Holm Sorensen, Peter H. Verburg, Tobias Plieninger
Summary: This article explores the multiple functions of seven landscape products worldwide, emphasizing that landscape products can improve food systems by promoting place-sensitive sustainability strategies and standards, thus addressing conflicts related to food production, social justice, and the environment.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elena Zioga, Blanaid White, Jane C. Stout
Summary: In an agricultural environment, bees are exposed to different chemical compounds in crops treated with pesticides, and the extent of their impact varies depending on concentration and type of exposure. Pollen samples from oilseed rape fields were found to be more contaminated compared to broad bean fields. Honey bee pollen loads contained mainly fungicides, while bumble bee pollen loads had more insecticides.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Maria Blasi, Ignasi Bartomeus, Riccardo Bommarco, Vesna Gagic, Michael Garratt, Andrea Holzschuh, David Kleijn, Sandra A. M. Lindstrom, Peter Olsson, Chiara Polce, Simon G. Potts, Maj Rundlof, Jeroen Scheper, Henrik G. Smith, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Yann Clough
Summary: This study examines the transferability of models for wild bee abundance across different regions and years. The results show that landscape-scale cover of mass-flowering crops and permanent semi-natural habitats are important drivers of wild bee abundance in all regions, but the transferability of these statistical models is limited.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fabian A. Boetzl, Jochen Krauss, Jonathan Heinze, Hannes Hoffmann, Jan Juffa, Sebastian Konig, Elena Krimmer, Maren Prante, Emily A. Martin, Andrea Holzschuh, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
Summary: The study found that species richness of most taxonomic groups, as well as multidiversity and richness of pollinators, increased with temporal continuity of AES types. AES flowering fields supported different species assemblages than calcareous grasslands, but became more similar to seminatural grasslands with increasing temporal continuity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sylvie Berthelot, Tobias Fruehbrodt, Peter Hajek, Charles A. Nock, Carsten F. Dormann, Juergen Bauhus, Jochen Fruend
Summary: Increasing tree diversity may reduce the risk of bark beetle infestation for genera prone to high infestation rates (Picea and Larix), but risk for less preferred genera (Pinus, and to some extent the exotic tree species) may increase with tree diversity due to spillover from preferred hosts. In mixed forests, the risk of infestation, even by relatively specialized insect pests, may be redistributed among tree species rather than reduced for all.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Louise A. Hutchinson, Tom H. Oliver, Tom D. Breeze, Emily J. Bailes, Lisa Brunjes, Alistair J. Campbell, Andreas Erhardt, G. Arjen de Groot, Rita Foldesi, Daniel Garcia, Dave Goulson, Helene Hainaut, Peter A. Hamback, Andrea Holzschuh, Frank Jauker, Bjorn K. Klatt, Alexandra -Maria Klein, David Kleijn, Aniko Kovacs-Hostyanszki, Elena Krimmer, Megan McKerchar, Marcos Minarro, Benjamin B. Phillips, Simon G. Potts, Gesine Pufal, Rita Radzeviciute, Stuart P. M. Roberts, Ulrika Samnegard, Juerg Schulze, Rosalind F. Shaw, Teja Tscharntke, Nicolas J. Vereecken, Duncan B. Westbury, Catrin Westphal, Alexander Wietzke, Ben A. Woodcock, Michael P. D. Garratt
Summary: The study found that while a small number of common, generalist species contribute disproportionately to flower visits, there are many more potential pollinating bee species, including rare and specialist species. Different crops have substantial variation in bee communities. Establishing a national list of crop pollinators is crucial for practitioners and policymakers to improve ecosystem services, conservation, and species monitoring. The data can be used to suggest promoting pollinator diversity in agricultural landscapes.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Benjamin Schwarz, Carsten F. Dormann, Diego P. Vazquez, Jochen Fruend
Summary: This study investigates the temporal dynamics of plant-pollinator interactions within a network, with a focus on the closure of flowers on Cichorieae plants driving the diel network dynamics. Availability of Cichorieae flowers in the afternoon attracts both generalist and specialist pollinators, leading to reduced turnover between morning and afternoon interactions in the network.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elena Krimmer, Emily A. Martin, Andrea Holzschuh, Jochen Krauss, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
Summary: Large flower fields maintained continuously for several years are recommended to enhance natural pest control in oilseed rape fields. However, the positive effects of flower fields on pollen beetle parasitism may be hindered by pesticide use.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Fabian A. Boetzl, Elena Krimmer, Andrea Holzschuh, Jochen Krauss, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
Summary: The diversity of arthropods in agricultural landscapes plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem services. Flowering fields can provide overwintering habitats for arthropods, but the effectiveness of these habitats depends on their temporal continuity and soil disturbance. Different arthropod groups have varying requirements for habitat types and temporal continuity.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Luca Santini, Ana Benitez-Lopez, Carsten F. Dormann, Mark A. J. Huijbregts
Summary: This study provides predictions of average population density, their natural variability, and statistical uncertainty for 4,925 terrestrial mammal species using a large-scale dataset. The results show that small body size, fossorial behavior, and herbivorous diets are associated with higher population densities, while large size, aerial behavior, and carnivorous diets are related to lower densities. These predictions and uncertainty estimates have various applications in macroecology and conservation biogeography, such as biomass estimation, conservation assessments, and Red List assessments.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Severin Hauenstein, Noemi Jassoy, Anne-Christine Mupepele, Thea Carroll, Mrigesh Kshatriya, Colin M. Beale, Carsten F. Dormann
Summary: The crisis facing Africa's elephant populations due to illegal harvesting highlights the challenge of accurately quantifying poaching intensity and the lack of data on illegal killings. To improve elephant conservation policies, it is important to fill the data gaps and conduct population modeling analyses.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ingmar Harry, Thorsten Assmann, Carsten F. Dormann, Carl J. Skarbek
Summary: This article explores the habitat preferences of C. menetriesi, finding that increasing Sphagnum cover and habitat diversity can lead to higher occupancy levels for the species at the study site, while tree cover is negatively correlated with occupancy but increases detectability. Based on the results, measures for protecting the population of C. menetriesi have been implemented, and the expansion of low intensity grazing is suggested as a potential benefit to the species. The methodological approach used for data collection and analysis can be applied to assess other populations and provide valuable information about relevant habitat parameters.
JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Carsten F. Dormann, Marco A. R. Mello
Summary: Ecology is fragmented into subdisciplines, causing problems in recruiting, communication, and perspective. To address these issues, a Canonical Ecology Curriculum is proposed to be used for training future ecologists. The curriculum should focus on robust theories, classical case studies, and common methods, which should be taught in graduate programs worldwide. This will minimize ambiguity in ecological education, enhance communication, and facilitate the integration of basic and applied ecology.
BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Sylvie Berthelot, Juergen Bauhus, Carsten F. Dormann, Dominique Gravel, Christian Messier, Charles A. Nock, Alain Paquette, Peter B. Reich, Jochen Fruend
Summary: This study aims to investigate the effect of plant diversity on the enemy release phenomenon in exotic plants. Through a cross-Atlantic tree-diversity experiment in Canada and Germany, researchers found that exotic tree species generally experience lower herbivory, possibly due to their escape from enemies brought by other plants. Overall, the study gives a rating of 9 out of 10 for its importance.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruth Stephan, Kerstin Stahl, Carsten F. Dormann
Summary: Drought impact prediction can enhance early warning and preparedness for droughts. This study develops drought impact models based on the Alpine Drought Impact report Inventory (EDIIALPS) to evaluate their potential for predicting impact occurrences.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Victor de Paz, Josep D. Asis, Andrea Holzschuh, Laura Banos-Picon
Summary: Agricultural abandonment is a relevant process in Europe with unclear consequences on biodiversity. This study focused on traditional orchards and analyzed the effects of abandonment and landscape complexity on beneficial arthropods. The results showed that abandoned orchards harbor different arthropod communities, favoring beneficial arthropods in simple landscapes. However, the importance of abandoned orchards decreases as the percentage of semi-natural habitats in the landscape increases.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Suzanne T. S. van Beeck Calkoen, Dries P. J. Kuijper, Marco Apollonio, Lena Blondel, Carsten F. Dormann, Ilse Storch, Marco Heurich
Summary: This study provides evidence for the dominant role played by humans (i.e. hunting, land-use activities) relative to large carnivores in reducing red deer density across European human-dominated landscapes. These findings suggest that when we would like large carnivores to exert numeric effects, we should focus on minimizing human impacts to allow the ecological impacts of large carnivores on ecosystem functioning.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)